In recent years, many countries in the Middle East, notably the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have made efforts to diversify their economies, alleviating economic reliance on oil and gas and focusing more on boosting tourism with major development projects. The UAE, which is already home to the world’s tallest building, is constructing the largest marine reef development in the world and an integrated gaming resort with a tower 300 meters above sea level, among other projects. Qatar built seven brand-new stadiums to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is transforming its eastern coastline into a $5 billion tourism development.
Saudi Arabia, however, dwarfs the UAE and Qatar in terms of tourism-focused mega projects. These include the 170-kilometer linear city known as The Line, the Trojena mountain tourism destination, a floating city, and a hospitality development on 90 islands in the Red Sea. Recently, the Kingdom began construction on another ambitious project: the Mukaab.
1. The World’s Largest Structure
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world but, once completed, the Mukaab will be the world’s largest structure. The $50 billion cube-shaped building, currently being built in Riyadh, will serve as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, a global icon for the burgeoning Saudi capital. The Mukaab will feature office and retail space, restaurants, and residential units. The main component of a new downtown development, the Mukaab will be 400 meters on each side, giving it enough volume to fit 20 Empire State Buildings.
The New Murabba Development Company, which is overseeing the project, expects the Mukaab to be completed by 2030. It will have about 2 million square feet of floor space, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 100,000 residential units, while also being surrounded by green space. The company broke ground in October 2024 and, according to CEO Michael Dyke, had to excavate about 10 million cubic meters of dirt to start the process.
Beyond hospitality and residences, the Mukaab will feature a fully enclosed skyscraper, the first of its kind, and a dome that utilizes AI to display holographic images, providing an immersive experience for visitors. It’s expected to add 334,000 jobs and more than $51 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.
2. Part of the New Murabba Development in Riyadh
The New Murabba Development, billed as “a gateway to another world,” is one of many futuristic projects in development in Saudi Arabia. The Mukaab will function as the centerpiece of Riyadh’s new modern downtown, which has been strategically planned for sustainability and walkability. The smart city will integrate green technology, sustainable living, and passive architecture to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions and help Saudi Arabia achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2060.
All retail outlets, restaurants, and work spaces will also be accessible from anywhere in the downtown core within 15 minutes. New Murabba will also have dozens of cultural and entertainment venues, a technology and design university, and a museum.
3. Criticism of the “Golden Cube”
Despite the expected economic benefits of the Mukaab and New Murabba, there have been some vocal critics of the design of the golden cube, particularly in regard to its likeness to the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in Islam, located in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Every year, millions of Muslims around the world make the journey to the Kaaba during Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages.
Others, however, have noted that the inspiration for the Mukaab comes from the old Murabaa palace, or “square palace,” which was an integral part of Riyadh’s old downtown. Its design is also considered a nod to the ancient Najdi architectural style, known for square-shaped mudbrick buildings and centralized outdoor courtyards.
4. One of Many Ambitious Projects
The New Murabba development is one of several ambitious projects that Saudi Arabia is planning as part of Vision 2030, a strategic governance strategy to diversify its economy and create a more vibrant society. Other major projects include NEOM, a 26,500-square-kilometer development that features The Line, a floating industrial area, multiple tourist resorts, and Oxagon, a floating, futuristic megacity expected to be more than 30 times larger than New York City.
Sindalah and Amala are among Saudi Arabia’s other major ongoing tourism developments. Sindalah, also part of NEOM, is a luxury island destination covering 840,000 square meters in the Red Sea, with world-class hotels and luxury shopping centers, a beach club, and massive yachting marina. Amala, expected to be completed by 2027, will feature an additional eight resorts and about 900 villas and apartment units along the Red Sea coast.